EFL CUP: O’Reilly double fires Manchester City to Carabao cup glory as Arsenal’s quadruple dream ends

Manchester City delivered a commanding second-half performance to defeat Arsenal and lift the Carabao Cup at Wembley, ending the Gunners’ hopes of a historic quadruple, Sport360NG reports. 

Pep Guardiola’s side turned the contest decisively in their favour after the interval, with Nico O’Reilly scoring twice in the space of four minutes to seal a deserved victory over the Premier League leaders.

The breakthrough arrived just after the hour mark under controversial circumstances. Arsenal goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, selected ahead of first-choice David Raya, failed to deal with a routine cross from Rayan Cherki, spilling the ball into the path of O’Reilly, who stooped to head home.

Moments later, City struck again. O’Reilly ghosted in at the far post to meet Matheus Nunes’ delivery, powering in a second header as Guardiola sprinted down the touchline in celebration.

The triumph sees Guardiola become the first manager to win the EFL Cup five times, underlining City’s enduring pedigree despite a mixed run of recent results.

City Reassert Dominance

After a subdued first half, City returned with renewed intensity, overwhelming Arsenal with aggressive pressing and fluid attacking play. The introduction of urgency and purpose proved decisive, as Guardiola’s men imposed themselves physically and tactically.

O’Reilly’s clinical brace highlighted his growing influence, while City’s overall display served as a reminder of their capacity to deliver on the biggest stage. Despite falling behind in the Premier League title race and suffering a Champions League exit, Guardiola’s side demonstrated they remain formidable opponents.

Goalkeeper James Trafford also played a key role, producing a crucial triple save early in the match to keep Arsenal at bay and justify Guardiola’s decision to retain him for the competition.

City’s sharper movement and attacking intent stood in stark contrast to Arsenal’s cautious approach, with the result reflecting their superiority on the day.

Arteta’s Gamble Falls Short

For Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, the defeat will raise questions over his team selection, particularly his decision to start Kepa in place of Raya.

The Spanish goalkeeper endured a difficult outing, with his costly error proving the turning point in the final. Already booked for a rash challenge on Jeremy Doku earlier in the match, Kepa’s mishandling of Cherki’s cross handed City the initiative at a crucial moment.

Once O’Reilly doubled the lead, Arsenal struggled to respond. The Gunners lacked attacking urgency for much of the contest and only showed signs of intent when the game had effectively slipped beyond reach.

While this defeat delays Arsenal’s pursuit of their first trophy since 2020, their broader campaign remains promising. Arteta’s side continue to lead the Premier League and are still competing in both the Champions League and FA Cup.

However, on this occasion, they were outplayed by a City side that rediscovered its cutting edge when it mattered most.